State Fair of Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids State Fair of Virginia |
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Ferris wheel at the 2019 State Fair of Virginia
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| Genre | State fair |
| Date(s) | Late September - Early October |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Meadow Event Park, Caroline County, Virginia  United States |
| Inaugurated | 1854 |
The State Fair of Virginia is a big yearly event in Virginia. It happens every fall, usually in late September. You can find it at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. Before 2009, the fair was held near Richmond. Now, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation owns and runs the fair.
The fair is packed with fun things to do! You can enjoy exciting rides and play carnival games. There are also live concerts to watch. Of course, you'll find classic fair foods like cotton candy and funnel cakes. You can also try Virginia favorites like barbecue chicken and peanuts.
The fair also has cool exhibits and competitions. These include displays about technology, farming, and history. You can even watch funny pig races! Many competitions offer scholarships to students who do well. Other entertainment includes log-rolling, magicians, and people walking on stilts. You can also find vendors selling clothes and other unique items.
Some special exhibits have been featured at the fair. "Virginia World" showed off farm products from Virginia. The "better living center" displayed amazing arts and crafts. The "technology expo" highlighted new tech from Virginia companies. "Young McDonald's Farm" let city visitors see many young farm animals up close. There was even a "Heritage Village" that taught about Native American, African American, and Euro-American history in Virginia.
Fair Rides and Fun
The State Fair of Virginia has rides for all ages. There's a special area for younger kids, usually ages 4-5. If you are 6-12 years old, you can ride everything the younger kids can. Plus, you get to enjoy the merry-go-round and a slow-moving airplane ride. For everyone aged 12 and up, if you are at least 61 inches tall, you can access all the rides!
History of the Fair
The State Fair of Virginia has a long history. It moved to its current home, The Meadow Event Park, in 2009. This huge area is about 360 acres, which is like 270 football fields! It has a large exhibition hall and a multi-purpose building. There are also barns with 143 horse stalls. Plus, there's a special area for horse shows with four rings.
The Meadow Event Park is on the land of Meadow Farm. This farm was once home to famous racehorses like Riva Ridge and Secretariat. These horses won many big races in the early 1970s.
The fair has not been held in some years. This happened during the Civil War (1861–64) and during World War I (1917–18). It was also paused during World War II (1942–45) and in 2020.
How the Farm Bureau Helped
In 2012, the company that ran the fair had money problems. This meant the fair was almost canceled that year. It was a big worry for many people.
However, a company called Universal Fairs bought parts of the fair. Then, in July 2012, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation stepped in. They bought a share of the fair and partnered with Universal Fairs. Their goal was to keep the fair going strong. The Farm Bureau then bought all the remaining shares in 2013. Thanks to them, the State Fair of Virginia continues to be a fun event for families every year!
